Learning to skate

[Leafaholic99]

I haven't skated since I was a kid and even then it was minimal, I never learned how to stop lol

The reason for this thread is that I am going to buy a pair of skates and start skating, maybe try playing hockey on ice, I have no clue what to look for in a pair of skates, any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any tips on learning how to skate would be appreciated as well

Thanks!

 

[Deebo]

I haven't skated since I was a kid and even then it was minimal, I never learned how to stop lol

The reason for this thread is that I am going to buy a pair of skates and start skating, maybe try playing hockey on ice, I have no clue what to look for in a pair of skates, any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any tips on learning how to skate would be appreciated as well

Thanks!

If you want to learn to skate with playing hockey as a goal, I'd join a beginner power skating course and go from there.

The ones I did, they recomended full equipment and you started with skating exercises and it progessed to puck drills after a few sessions.

 

[dappleganger]

My biggest piece of advice is buy a pair of skates that fit. In fact, get them a little on the tight side as your foot will stretch out the boot as you wear them.

Other than that, get out there as much as possible. Practice makes perfect... or at least able to skate.

Good luck!

 

[Tigger]

Before I was 30 I could count the number of times I skated on one hand, then the guys at work razzed me until I went out with them to play.

I sucked, couldn't stop, couldn't cross over, couldn't turn around never mind skating backwards. I had a lot of fun though.

The first year I got hurt a lot too ( the first time I tried a diving poke check I bruised my ribs pretty fair, don't do that... ) but it was so much fun that I just kept going out.

All these years later my skating ability is night and day from when I started, you've just got to get out and skate a lot. I never tried taking a lesson or power skating but it sounds like a good idea, I just kept going to open skates whenever they were free ( often around here ) and tried to keep playing through the summer too.

One thing I noticed when I finally got a decent pair of skates was how much better it felt and how much more willing I was to keep trying new things, I got a pair of Mission Amp 2 in my second-ish year and really noticed a difference compared to the crap I was trying to skate with before.

Anywho, good luck!

 

[moon111]

Skate size: tight.  Paul Coffey as an extreme use to wear his two sizes smaller.
Stopping: Bend your knees. 
Stay Alive:  How much aerobic exercise do you get?  Realize your limits.  Guys get excited and overdo it and drop of heart attacks.

 

[Corn Flake]

My suggestion... For learning and getting back into it, get skates that are snug, but comfortable... not "tight"... laces are for tightening.  Your toes should be able to wiggle a bit. You probably won't wear them enough to break in a pair that is too tight.

I recently went to a more comfortable pair after years of wearing tight ones for hockey and my feet like me again. 

 

[Leafaholic99]

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions, greatly appreciated!

I got my uncles skates today and they fit properly, I'm hoping to get out this week sometime and try it out. With the nice weather in Winnipeg, an outdoor rink is perfect.

I'm going with my gf and her brother, he plays high school hockey and is going to help me out with getting started and stopping. When I used to skate as a kid a bit, I never learned how to stop. It should be an interesting experience.

 

[jonlleafs]

I agree with all the posts here.  I wasn't a great skater when I was in Canada.  I didn't play much ice hockey either.  And really I didn't join a league and get fairly serious about playing hockey until I moved to sunny California of all places.  After about 10yrs, I too am night and day in my skating ability.  However, the biggest jump in skating ability happened when I finally bought the right fitting skates.  I kept buying skates that were at least 1/2 a size too big.  Once I bought the right size and also spent about $600 (the most expensive pair of skates I've ever paid for) on a pair of Bauer one100 skates, my skating ability just took off.  So as you get better, try a better brand/model of skate.  Yes, you pay more, but you will find that they are worth it.  I'm not saying to buy $600 skates unless you are playing 3+ times a week like I am, but gradually try the next grade of skate until you become proficient and then you can try the more pricey skates.

And, in the end, it comes down to just going out and skate skate and skate some more.  The stopping will just one day click and over time, you don't even think about it.  It will just happen.  Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Bullfrog]

Prior to recently, I hadn't skated in about 15 years and then only a couple of times. But I went out and got some skates and have skated about 8 times in the last couple of weeks at a local rink.

First thing i learned is that you use muscles that you don't use while sitting at a desk.  ;D

I can do cross overs when turning left (right foot over left) but am struggling with the right turn. I haven't fallen yet though, so I'll keep at it.

 

[Tigger]

First thing i learned is that you use muscles that you don't use while sitting at a desk.  ;D

I played some pond hockey last year and found there are muscles on top of those muscles too, what with the crunching into hollow bits and snowbanks that swallow you up too...

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I can do cross overs when turning left (right foot over left) but am struggling with the right turn. I haven't fallen yet though, so I'll keep at it.

The dreaded public-skating-itis.  If you go to public skating alot, you only ever learn how to go around the rink counter clock wise.  I'm the same way, can cross over right over left, and I can stop right foot forward, other way, forget it.

I just bought a new pair of skates a couple weeks ago, hadn't been on skates in about 10 years.  I've been about 6 times in the last two weeks, and it's amazing how quickly you regain balance and confidence.

 

[Tigger]

When you're going down the stretch on each side you can alternate crossing over one side (foot) then the other but yeah it's tough to get that tight turn practice going to the right with a lot of bodies out there. Often there's one end of the rink that seems to have a bit more space so you can try working on it a little bit there ( I also slow down and work on shifting from skating forward to backwards and back again ) and at the end when people are leaving you might squeak in some practice with a bit more space too.

Gotta keep those knees bent Madagascar!!

Fwiw I still kind of suck stopping on my left side too, I can do it but I'm waaay better on my right side.